15 University COOs and Operations Leaders Australia
- Jonno White
- Aug 13
- 5 min read
University operations is where strategy becomes real. The people in these roles connect finance, people, technology, property, risk, service delivery and the student experience.
This is a current recognition directory of Australian university COOs and equivalent operations leaders. It is not a ranking. Each person is included because a university source supports the current role and gives readers a useful reason to understand the work behind it.
In a university, the operating model affects whether good teaching, research and student support can happen smoothly. These leaders work across the systems that make that possible, from finance and technology to people, property, safety and service delivery.
1. Bill Parasiris
Chief Operating Officer, Western Sydney University
Bill Parasiris is Chief Operating Officer at Western Sydney University.
He brings more than 30 years of tertiary experience and leads a portfolio spanning people, data, technology, cyber security, finance, procurement and property.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in enterprise operations across a large Australian university.
2. Sandra Sharpham
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Charles Sturt University
Sandra Sharpham is Acting Chief Operating Officer at Charles Sturt University.
The current portfolio places finance, people and culture, strategy, information technology, students, and safety, security and wellbeing under the acting COO.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in acting university operations leadership with public service scale.
3. Glen Babington
Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President, University of Technology Sydney
Glen Babington is Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President at University of Technology Sydney.
His portfolio brings together finance, property, information technology, human resources, legal functions, data analytics and insights.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
4. Michael Schwager
Chief Operating Officer, The Australian National University
Michael Schwager is Chief Operating Officer at The Australian National University.
He commenced as ANU Chief Operating Officer in March 2026 on secondment from the Australian Public Service after leading IP Australia through reform and digital delivery.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
5. David Menarry
Interim Chief Operating Officer, Curtin University
David Menarry is Interim Chief Operating Officer at Curtin University.
Curtin lists him as Chief Operating Officer, with experience across finance, risk and audit in Australia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
6. Chris Pemberton
Interim Chief Operating Officer, Swinburne University of Technology
Chris Pemberton is Interim Chief Operating Officer at Swinburne University of Technology.
He brings more than 30 years across energy, aviation, transport and infrastructure, including senior roles with Downer, TransGrid and Qantas.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
7. Katerina Kapobassis
Vice-President (Administration and Finance) and Chief Operating Officer, The University of Melbourne
Katerina Kapobassis is Vice-President (Administration and Finance) and Chief Operating Officer at The University of Melbourne.
Before joining the University of Melbourne, she held finance roles at Myer Holdings Limited and built more than 20 years of finance and higher education experience.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
8. Andrew Flannery
Chief Operating Officer, The University of Queensland
Andrew Flannery is Chief Operating Officer at The University of Queensland.
Before becoming COO, he was CFO at UQ and previously spent seven years as Global CFO of Flight Centre Travel Group.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
9. Tobi Wilson
Vice-President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer, UNSW Sydney
Tobi Wilson is Vice-President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer at UNSW Sydney.
Before joining UNSW, he led South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, overseeing public health services and a large capital programme.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
10. Simon Kupec
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President, Monash University
Simon Kupec is Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President at Monash University.
Before becoming COO, he led Monash work across community safety and security, student conduct and services across Australian locations.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
11. Fiona Notley
Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President, RMIT University
Fiona Notley is Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President at RMIT University.
She commenced as RMIT COO in November 2024 and is Chair of the Universities Australia Deputy Vice-Chancellors Corporate Committee.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
12. Peter Prest
Chief Operating Officer, University Operations, Adelaide University
Peter Prest is Chief Operating Officer, University Operations at Adelaide University.
The current Adelaide University directory identifies him as Chief Operating Officer for University Operations after his earlier University of Adelaide COO role.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
13. Peter Bryant
Chief Operating Officer, Griffith University
Peter Bryant is Chief Operating Officer at Griffith University.
He moved into the COO role after serving as Griffith CFO and previously held senior finance and executive roles at Billabong International and Australian Music Group.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
14. Stephen Phillips
Vice-President, Operations, University of Wollongong
Stephen Phillips is Vice-President, Operations at University of Wollongong.
He joined UOW after serving as Vice-President Operations at the University of Sydney, with experience across higher education, financial services and infrastructure transformation.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
15. Mark Smith
Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President (Operations), La Trobe University
Mark Smith is Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President (Operations) at La Trobe University.
He has held senior finance and commercial roles at City Facilities Management and spent almost 20 years in locations around the world with Accenture.
That makes this a useful profile for readers interested in the practical systems behind university operations and service delivery.
Conclusion
The strongest pattern across this group is integration. These leaders sit across the systems that make a university work, from digital services and finance to property, people, safety and performance.
The second pattern is range. Some came through finance, some through public service, health, defence, infrastructure or commercial operations. That variety matters because a university is both a learning community and a large operating organisation.
If you lead an organisation, the practical question is simple: are your operating systems helping good people do good work?
About the Author
Jonno White is the founder of Consult Clarity. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at, with practical ideas they can use on Monday morning.
Next Read
If you are building leadership capability, training topics for managers is a useful next read. For work that brings a leadership group together, see leadership team development.
If your leadership team is working through culture, capability or organisational change, write to jonno@consultclarity.org.